Hudson Valley Additive Manufacturing Centre takes centre stage.

The HVAMC was recently approached by Jim O’Connell, a senior resource educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), New York’s public agricultural resource program. His problem? The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species native to Eastern Asia that threatens the Northeastern United States. It can infest and severely damage trees and plants, presenting a serious ecological and agricultural threat.

To prevent the insect from “hitchhiking” into New York, CCE wanted to inform and educate members of the agricultural community. It needed an effective way to help community members accurately identify spotted lanternflies in multiple developing stages. Previously, O’Connell and his team had been using posters and specimens preserved in alcohol. However, these methods had several drawbacks:

• Posters only showed one angle and one stage of the insect
• Preservation process was time-consuming and costly
• Specimens were extremely delicate and lost colour over time

The HVAMC designed and 3D printed models of the spotted lanternfly with PolyJet technology – specifically, with the Stratasys J Series. The high resolution and full colour capabilities meant the team could create life-size, highly accurate models showing the full range of development stages. They encased the insect models in a cube of VeroUltraClear™ material, which meant the parts could be easily handled and transported. Best of all, these models retained their colour accuracy, unlike the preserved specimens.

Compared with the preservation method, which could take days or even weeks, the most complex 3D printed insect model took less than an hour to print. J series technology allowed for vibrant, highly accurate colours, and the VeroUltraClear provided 100% transparency so that the insects could be seen clearly and handled easily. The team at CCE plans to circulate 3D printed models of the spotted lanternfly all over New York State to raise awareness of the invasive species.